Racing: Paul Nicholls looks to have another star in his ranks as Silverburn (5-1) landed a game four-length success in the Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown this afternoon.
A full brother to Denman, Ruby Walsh needed to be at his strongest to hold off 2-1 favourite Perce Rock, ridden by Tony McCoy.
The field was taken along by Howard Johnson's Astarador but the big guns lined up to challenge as they turned into the straight. Silverburn took up the running at the second last and looked to have the race in the bag.
My Turn Now loomed large, however, before a crashing fall put paid to his chances at the last.
It is the third time in five years Nicholls has won the Tolworth following victories of Thisthatandtother in 2003 and Noland 12 months ago. The disappointment of the race was De Soto, who was pulled up half a mile out.
Nicholls said: "I was really pleased with that. Ruby said he was always just doing enough. He was pricking his ears and he's a big baby really but I don't think he'll be stopping.
"I would say it's very unlikely he will run again now
before Cheltenham as he goes well fresh. The odds are he will run
in the two-mile-five-furlong race (Ballymore Properties Novices'
Hurdle) but if it's testing he could run in the two-miler
(Supreme Novices' Hurdle)," he added.